Amateur-built PRECEPTOR STOL KING accident near North Pole, Alaska, July 7, 2012
On July 7, 2012 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built PRECEPTOR STOL KING, registered N919WP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near North Pole, Alaska (Lakloey Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to a binding drive belt while in the airport traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2012 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Lakloey Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PRECEPTOR STOL KING
- Registration
- N919WP · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she was on a postproduction check flight of a recently completed experimental homebuilt airplane. She said that while on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern, the engine sputtered, the cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures began to rise, and the engine lost power. During the subsequent emergency descent, the airplane struck a power pole and power lines, and then flipped and impacted the ground tail first. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the two drive belts for the gear reduction drive had fallen off of the pulley and showed evidence of binding.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 251 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, July 6, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Timothy A Shorey 019440104REDK (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK22 North Pole AK at 12:20 pm
- Destination: AK22 North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.